I would like to buy some good quality diamond....

[McDreamy]

......earrings! My lovely Nan has left me some money and I would like to buy a pair of diamond earrings. Nothing huge, small discreet earrings but I'm not sure where to go for them. Any recommendations?

is there a local jewellers near you?

I bought mine (well DH did) in an independant jewellers in Kingston on Thames many years ago, cant remember the name but it was recommended to me by a friend and i wear the earrings every single day.

Can ask friend for name if you want.

Where abouts in Bucks are you?

No longer in Bucks, I'm in Wiltshire now. Does it still say Bucks on my profile?

yes, sorry not being stalkerish but wondered if we were close by and you would know the local shops and then we could have coffee'd/wined and had a scout round for diamonds.

wiltshire... hmmmm maybe the national places like Swag or similar?

I think each town has their own fab jewellers though.

Aw hills that could have been fun

I was in Wendover

You could try QVC. You can send them back if you don't like them.

TBH I have seen some lovely things on gemstv and the jewellery channel, they tell you what quality they are as opposed to just buying some that are a) marked up due to brand/label and b) not often graded (from what I have seen).

Do your research on the 4 Cs, and have a look at a guide like this one - you will see that it's not just size which is important, but colour, clarity and cut (apologies if I'm teachinng granny to suck eggs )

You could either choose to go to a reputable jewellers, such as Jacobs in Reading (I don't know whereabouts in Wiltshire you are, but perhaps it's just a short trip down the M4 for you?). Or you could try the Jewellry Quarter in Birmingham to get a bit more of a bargain.

I would highly recommend looking at something antique/second hand. You can get often a nicer quality stone in a more 'unique' style if you go for something pre-owned. Check out the website for Berganza for ideas.
If you really want new, there's always Boodles!!! They have lovely stuff. My diamond earrings are from Pykes but I think they're a northern family business. My e-ring is from Berganza though, they have fab art deco style pieces.

I meant to say, you can get nicer quality stuff FOR LESS than the price of new stuff.... sorry

Have you looked at the Tiffany website?

uk.tiffany.com/Shopping/CategoryBrowse.aspx?mcat=148204&cid=287464&search_params=s+5-p+1-c+287464-r+ 201323351-x+-n+12-ri+-ni+1

If you're near Bath - I got mine at the antiques market there.

Substantially cheaper than buying from a jewellers.

I think TBH that if I was making an investment, I'd try to get to London for choice, unless you have a very good reputable jewellers near you.
What sort of price are you talking about?
I have some stud diamonds in white gold that I paid around £900 for locally at a very good, old jewellers. They total 0.40 carats.

traceybath, I completely agree, the Bartlett Street antiques market is superb, just bought an eternity ring which was half the price of going to a jeweller. See Liz's Jewellery, she has some amazing pieces...

Gold and Diamonds are soooo expensive now, you'd get far more for your money going vintage. (altho my ring was new, she had bought it through the trade...)

oh McDreamy - I am not far from there! shame you moved.

you could try getting diamonds and then having them set in your choice of metal? I like the idea of an antique piece, but not for earrings, that makes my skin crawl.

Thanks for all the suggestions. Think I agree about the vintage earrings - ew! I think I may pay a lot for a Tiffany pair although their is a pair I quite like.

DH and I are off to Birmingham in a couple of weeks for the weekend. We bought our wedding rings from the jewellry quarter - might have a wander around there, I hadn't given it a thought.

ooh yes go to the jewellery quarter, i havent been there, but heard it was very good.

Do let me know if you find something, i am in need of some new sparkly things.

Lola - thats where I got my diamond earrings from.

And they also let you trade stuff in - so I traded in an old ring from my earrings.

Hills - the diamonds are generally re-set for diamond earrings - the metal is after all the cheap bit.

traceybath...she's fantastic!

earnest jones

oh purple why did you have to bring tiffany into it

i wounder if they do these on lay away. a tenner a week maybe

traceybath - i might check out this liz...

fatisthenewslim - those are pretty earrings, think it would have to be more like £100 a week. Havent had a nosy in Tiffs for a long time, now I am off to mooch the website.